“The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was…how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished…”

What will you do to get your soul into a happy state each day? Here are 12 resources that I have used (with a couple of exceptions) and recommend – to help you cultivate a deeper devotional life in 2016.

1. Be Devoted to Prayer

What’s so helpful about this sermon (transcript included) is the practical tips for praying. Where many resources explain why we should pray, this one explains how. John Piper uses the FADES acronym to promote prayer that is:

4. How I Started Praying the Bible

Don Whitney has some of the best resources around for cultivating a deeper devotional life. In this article, Whitney writes:

“Jesus prayed psalms on the cross (see Matt. 27:46 and Lk. 23:46). Followers of Jesus in the Book of Acts (4:23-26) prayed psalms. And many prayerful people since Bible times (such as George Müller) practiced praying the Bible. Regrettably, I’d never been taught this simple, satisfying method of taking the words of Scripture and turning them into prayer.”

Read this if you want to learn a practice that will in Whitney’s words, “kindle your cold heart.”

6. PrayerMate

7. Prone to Wander: Prayers of Confession and Celebration

I wasn’t a fan of liturgy. Then I discovered that I wasn’t a fan of liturgy for the sake of liturgy – cold, unthinking, say-it-by-memory liturgy.

This book (and similar resources such as the Common Prayer website) put words to the stirrings of our hearts.

“Confessing our sins might seem like a gloomy business—God already knows about them, so what’s the point of dwelling on failure? But confession is more celebratory than we think. It does not simply remind us of our guilt, but points us to our great Savior, who has atoned for us and lovingly pursues us despite our wandering.

These prayers open with a scriptural call of confession, confess specific sins, thank the Father for Jesus’ perfect life and death in our place, ask for the help of the Spirit in pursuing holiness, and close with an assurance of pardon.”

Read this book as an accompaniment to your daily devotions to foster a life of confession and celebration.

8. 70 Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

At just 19 years of age, Jonathan Edwards penned these resolutions that would by God’s grace, shape the remainder of his life. These resolutions challenge me whenever I read them, and for this reason I started to include reading one of them during my devotional time. The resolutions include:

Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking.

Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.

Read these resolutions to be inspired to live single-mindedly and wholeheartedly for God.

9. A Hunger for God

I haven’t read this yet, but it has been recommended by a friend, and I plan to read it in 2016. The blurb is compelling:

“There is an appetite for God. And it can be awakened. I invite you to turn from the dulling effects of food and the dangers of idolatry, and to say with some simple fast: “This much, O God, I want you.”

Read this (free) book/ebook if you want to cultivate a hunger for God.

10. Too Busy For Family Worship?

Do you think daily devotions would be more achievable if you had less on your plate? Spurgeon was a man with more responsibilities than most, and an output that would compete with the US President! But every evening at 6pm, he had family worship with his wife, sons and whoever else was home at the time. One of these visitors wrote:

“I remember, especially, his reading of the twenty-fourth of Luke: “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.” How sweetly he talked upon having Jesus with us wherever we go. Not only to have Him draw near at special seasons, but to go with us whatever labour we undertake. . . . Then, how full of tender pleading, of serene confidence in God, of world-embracing sympathy were his prayers, . . . His public prayers were an inspiration and benediction, but his prayers with the family were to me more wonderful still. . .Mr. Spurgeon, when bowed before God in family prayer, appeared a grander man even than when holding thousands spellbound by his oratory.”

12. Baron Fig: Confidant

I’ve been using this beautifully crafted journal since I started a new devotional habit in November. You don’t need to use this journal (or any journal for that matter). For me, it’s been both useful and enjoyable for journalling my time with God.

5 Comments

Regarding #2 and #4, I would recommend my Light for Each Day devotionals http://goo.gl/FrRGVU, which use only the words of the Bible and contain verses from all 66 Bible books. At least one reading each week is a prayer on a specific topic.
Nothing is more humbling than to read Edward’s resolutions that he penned at a mere 19 years old! That’s a great idea to read one each morning and make that my focus for the day. That would result in cycling through the entire list five times a year. Thanks!

I love my daily devotional, “Our Daily Walk” by F B Meyer. It’s an old book now, and some might find the language a little antiquated, but at the same time it’s beautiful. We seem to have lost the art of truly descriptive language, and this book (for me) captures the glory of God in ways that I find really profound.

My Bible, journal and Valley of Vision are my companions during my quiet times with God. I’m currently doing a two-year Bible reading plan. Excited to use some of your suggestions this year. Thank you for the 2016 kick start!